Baby walker and protector



(No Model.)

J. S. IRVINE.

BABY WALKER AND PROTECTOR.

No. 438,478; Patented Oct. 14, 1890.

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A TT ORNE Y8 UNlTED STATES ATENT FFICE.

JOHN S. IRVINE, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

BABY WALKER AND PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,478, dated October14, 189C.

Application filed February 10, 1890. Serial No. 339,897. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. IRVINE, residing at Charlotte, in the countyof Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina, have invented cert-ain newand useful Improvements in Baby WValkers and Protectors, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, light, anddurable combined baby walker and protector which will serve as aneffectual means for assisting the infant in learning to walk and at thesame time protect it from such injuries as are incident during theinfant-walking period To this end my invention consists in the peculiararrangement and combination of parts of such protector and support, aswill hereinafter be fully described in the annexed specification, andparticularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a View of my improved walkerand protector as in use. Fig. 2 is a perspective rear View of the same.

In the practical construction of my invention I provide a shield orjacket formed of papier-mach, poplar-wood pulp, or other desiredmaterial, the upper portion of which is of a shape to snugly fit thebody of the child, while the lower portion thereof is flared or formedinto cone shape, so as to extend outwardly from the feet of the childand form a solid support.

In the accompanying drawings, the shield A is formed, preferably, of asingle piece, the ends a a bent around and adj ustably held together bymeans of the straps b b I), such ends being cut at an angle so as toleave a V- shaped opening 13 at the rear, so that the shield can bereadily adjusted to any size desired. The front wall of the body portionA of the shield A is preferably formed to conform to a childs body, suchportion being cut away at C to permit of free play of the head and neckof the child.

The sides of the upper end of the body portion are formed with thebell-shaped openings D D, through which the arms of the wearer arepassed, when adjusted on the infant such openings being formed withprojecting sleeves D D, which serve to provide increasedbearing-surfaces for the arms, the

edges of such sleeves being rounded, so as to prevent injury thereto.

A supporting or seat strap E is provided, which is fastened at one endto the outside of the shield A, passed through the opening 8, formedinto a loop, which is arranged to fit snugly in rear of the thighs ofthe child and serves to form acomfortable seat in case the child shouldstumble or its legs give way, the free end of such strap being passedthrough the opening 8 and connected with the buckle G, fastened to theouter side of the shield, as shown. To always hold said strap in properposition to support the child, as described, I provide an additionalstrap H, which is secured at its ends to the strap E in such a manner asto form a loop which loosely fits over the abdomen of the child.

a denotes openings made in the base A of the shield to lighten the same,and a denotes a hook secured to the shield, to which may be attached arattle or any other suitable toy.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the advantages of my improvement will readily appear. It will be seenthat the same is exceedingly simple, and that it may be adjusted todifferentsized infants. It forms a substantial support, and yet is ofsuch lightness that no extra effort is necessary for the child to moveit along as it endeavors to make the steps. When in use, it will beimpossible for the child to fall against stoves, in fires, out of doors,or to injure itself in any other manner, the cone-shaped base A servingas a solid support and to prevent sidewise motion of the child.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-- 1. A combined baby walker and protectorconsisting of a shield A, formed with a body portion or jacket A, and aflaring or coneshaped base A said shield adapted to be adjusted to thebody of the child and provided with arm-holes in its portion A,substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A combined baby walker and protector consisting of a shield A, formedof a single piece of material, said shield having a body portion A,formed with the arm-holes D D, and a flaring or base portion A the endsa a of said shield out at an angle to form a V- opening when said ends aa are brought together, and means for adjustably holding said edgestogether, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the shield A, provided with theoppositely-disposed openings 6 6 of the seat-strap E, one end passedthrough the opening e and secured upon the outside of the shield, itsopposite end passed through the opposite opening 6 and the buckle G,secured upon the outside of the shield, adapted to secure the free endof said strap, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. An improved baby walker and protector consisting of the shield A,formed of a single piece of material having a vertical or body portionA, formed With arm-holes D D, having lateral extensions D D, and acut-away portion 0, and a cone-shaped base portion A all arrangedsubstantially as shown and described.

JOHN S. IRVINE.

Witnesses:

W. F. GRIFFITH, WILL HARTY.

